ReportBain & Company
Gaming Report 2024: Meet the Moment
1 Jan 202432 pages~46 min full read
The global video game market reached a $196 billion valuation in 2023 and is projected to grow at an annual rate of 6% through 2028.
See it on page 5Industry growth is driven by younger demographics treating gaming environments as primary hubs for social interaction, commerce, and creative expression.
See it on page 5Market leaders must transition from siloed development to immersive, cross-platform ecosystems that prioritize interoperability and user-generated content.
See it on page 17The industry is shifting toward a hardware-agnostic model, requiring companies to adopt cloud-based distribution and seamless multi-channel experiences.
See it on page 15Organizations must integrate generative AI into core workflows to improve operational efficiency, scale production, and address the disconnect between headcount growth and revenue.
See it on page 30High failure rates in mobile gaming necessitate more rigorous, data-driven operational discipline across product development, finance, and marketing functions.
See it on page 21Firms are modernizing internal structures by standardizing development tools and refining compensation models to compete for specialized talent against the broader technology sector.
See it on page 29The global video game market, valued at $196 billion in 2023, is entering a period of sustained expansion with a projected annual growth rate of 6% through 2028. This upward trajectory is primarily fueled by younger demographics who increasingly utilize gaming environments as essential hubs for social interaction, creative expression, and commerce. To capitalize on this shift, industry leaders must pivot away from traditional, siloed development toward immersive, cross-platform ecosystems that prioritize interoperability and the integration of user-generated content. Expanding intellectual property across diverse media formats is now a critical requirement for maintaining relevance and maximizing consumer engagement.
The industry is simultaneously undergoing a structural transition toward a hardware-agnostic model, necessitated by the rise of cloud-based distribution and the demand for seamless, multi-channel experiences. As market saturation intensifies, the high failure rates observed in mobile gaming underscore the need for more rigorous operational discipline. Companies are increasingly required to align product development, finance, and marketing functions through data-driven strategies. By leveraging artificial intelligence to optimize user acquisition and retention, organizations can better navigate the volatility of the current landscape and address the growing disparity between headcount expansion and actual revenue growth.
To secure long-term viability, gaming organizations are modernizing their internal structures by standardizing development tools and fostering entrepreneurial autonomy. This evolution includes a holistic integration of generative AI into core workflows to improve operational efficiency and scale production capabilities. Furthermore, as competition for specialized talent intensifies, firms are refining their compensation and support models to align with broader technology industry standards. These combined technological and organizational shifts are essential for navigating current market turbulence and ensuring that gaming entities remain competitive in an increasingly complex and interconnected digital economy.
